What do you think? Are we too focused on tools and visuals and forgetting the essence of UX?Every professional UI/UX designer knows the difference between UI and UX, and we’re all aware that UX is not about Figma or choosing colors.
Figma is just a tool—a means to communicate ideas, whether it’s a user flow, wireframe, or prototype. If a designer doesn’t understand what UX truly is, they wouldn’t last in this field, let alone call themselves a UI/UX designer.
It feels like your frustration might come from a bad experience with a designer or two, but generalizing doesn’t do justice to the profession. Frankly, this topic is tiring. Instead of rehashing what UX isn’t, let’s focus on pushing the boundaries of what great design can achieve.
Lately, we’ve been noticing a trend where many are calling themselves UX/UI Designers, but their approach seems to boil down to redesigning screens or creating aesthetic visuals in tools like Figma, assuming that’s what UX is all about.
Here’s what true UX/UI Design involves:
1. Understanding the Problem Space:
- What is the user’s actual pain point?
- Why does the system exist in the first place?
2. Research & Validation:
- Have you conducted user interviews, usability testing, or competitive analysis?
- Do your designs reflect actual user needs, or just your assumptions?
3. System Thinking & Functionality:
- UX is not just a pretty interface. It’s the flow, functionality, and logic that guide users through a product effortlessly.
- A good design solves problems; it doesn’t just create eye candy.
4. Collaboration:
- Real designers don’t just hand off screens. They work closely with developers, product managers, and stakeholders to ensure their vision is implemented correctly.
5. Iterative Improvement:
- UX is about testing and refining. It’s an ongoing process based on user feedback, not a one-time redesign sprint.
What UX is NOT?
- It’s NOT about choosing fancy colors or trendy fonts.
- It’s NOT just a Dribbble-worthy portfolio.
- It’s NOT designing an app without considering edge cases or user flows.
If all you’re doing is opening Figma, picking a UI kit, and redesigning an existing app or website without addressing its core experience issues, you’re only scratching the surface of what UX is. UX/UI Design is about making lives easier, not just creating “cool” interfaces.
To all aspiring designers: Before diving into tools, focus on the foundations: user research, problem-solving, and systems thinking. Tools like Figma are just vehicles, not the destination.
Let’s elevate the craft of design and remember: A good design isn’t one that just looks good. It’s one that works beautifully.
